Before you go

Your trip to Viña del Mar.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Viña del Mar – Valparaíso Destination Valparaíso and Viña del Mar about 9 km from Valparaíso

How to get there

Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Santiago · 118 km
Terminal Rodoviario de Viña del Mar 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Buses from Santiago stop at the Terminal Rodoviario de Viña del Mar, on Avenida Valparaíso, near Plaza Vergara. The trip along Ruta 68 takes about an hour and a half. From Valparaíso, the Metro Valparaíso reaches Miramar and Viña del Mar stations in just a few minutes.

How many days

One day is enough for the Reloj de Flores, the Castillo Wulff, the Quinta Vergara and the Museo Fonck, finishing the afternoon on the beach. A second day works for Reñaca, the Concón dunes and a seafood lunch on the coast.

When to go

December to March is beach season, with the waterfront crowded and the music festival in February. Outside summer, the city is quiet and museums and gardens can be visited without queues. The sea is cold in any month.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

For the center and the waterfront, no: the sights are close and there are micros along Avenida San Martín and Avenida Perú. For Reñaca and Concón, the city buses work well, and a car gives more freedom to stop at the viewpoints on Avenida Borgoño.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Viña del Mar

Morning
Quinta Vergara and Palacio Vergara
Start at the Quinta Vergara park, walk past the festival amphitheater and enter the Museo de Bellas Artes, housed in the Palacio Vergara.
Afternoon
Museo Fonck and the waterfront
Walk to the Museo Fonck, on the corner of streets 4 Norte and 1 Oriente, and see the moai at the entrance and the Rapa Nui room. Then go down to the waterfront via the Casino building and continue to the Castillo Wulff and the Reloj de Flores.
Late afternoon
Sunset at Playa Acapulco
Return north along Avenida San Martín and wait for the sunset on the sand of Playa Acapulco, where the sun sets over the Pacific.
Evening
Dinner in downtown Viña
Have dinner around Avenida San Martín or near Plaza Vergara. Restaurants fill up late, in the Chilean timetable.

2 days in Viña del Mar

Day 2

Morning
Reñaca
Follow the coast to Reñaca for a morning on the beach, with stepped buildings on the hillside right behind the sand.
Afternoon
Dunes of Concón
Continue along Avenida Borgoño to the Concón dune field and climb the sand to see the sea from above. Have lunch at one of Concón's fishing coves along the way.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Viña del Mar and Valparaíso?

Valparaíso is the historic port, with hills, ascensores and street art. Viña is the seaside resort, with flat avenues, gardens, beaches and seaside buildings. Many travelers stay in one and visit both.

Can you enter the sea in Viña del Mar?

Yes, but the water is cold year-round because of the Humboldt Current. In summer there are lifeguards on the open beaches; follow the flags and their instructions.

What is the Viña festival?

It's the International Song Festival, held each February at the Quinta Vergara amphitheater, featuring Latin American artists and broadcast on television.

How to get from Viña del Mar to Valparaíso?

By the Metro Valparaíso, the train that connects the two cities, by bus along Avenida España, or by taxi. The trip takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

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